Gender differences in using alcohol to cope with depression

Abstract

To examine gender differences in alcohol consumption as a function of mood and expectancies, 32 nondepressed and 32 moderately depressed male and female social drinkers were compared during a 15-minute taste-rating session. Results indicated that depressed subjects tended to consume more alcohol than nondepressed subjects and men consumed more alcohol than women. Depressed men drank more and drank more per sip than all other subjects. Three depressed men consumed more than all other subjects. Depression and anxiety decreased over time for all subjects. However, a Sex x Depression x Time interaction showed that only depressed men and nondepressed women were substantially less depressed after drinking. The nondepressed women, compared to the depressed men, consumed less alcohol and reported a greater increase in positive mood. Men expected more global positive effects from drinking than women, suggesting the tension reduction hypothesis (TRH) is mediated by gender-specific expectancies.